Comparing the Ameriglo C.A.P. front/Pro Operator rear tritium sights to the Crimson Trace LG-850 from ten runs of the F.A.S.T. using each:
| Irons | Laser | |
| Avg Score | 4.80 | 4.52 |
| 3×5 acc | 95% | 95% |
| 8″ acc | 95% | 98% |
| avg draw | 1.51 | 1.35 |
| avg 3×5 splits | 0.42 | 0.40 |
| avg reload | 1.80 | 1.81 |
| avg 8″ split | 0.23 | 0.22 |
| best run | 4.19 | 3.96 |
| worst run | 6.51 | 6.39 |
The biggest difference was on first shot times, which obviously were much faster using the laser. Knocking more than 10% off my time to a low% draw is pretty meaningful. On the other hand, subjectively I felt like the reloads and 8″ splits were slower even though they weren’t. While it’s happening just as fast, it takes more visual effort to guarantee hits with the laser for me when I’m at full speed on a wide open high% target.
The iron sighted runs were done cold, and the laser runs were shot immediately after. Sometime soon I’ll do the same test but in reverse order to see if that makes a noticeable difference, but I doubt it. Eventually, I’d like to get about 100-200 runs each way over the course of a few months to make a more in depth comparison.
Train hard & stay safe! ToddG
Todd, with the Ameriglo pro-operator rear, is there any way to rack the slide off a belt, or is it a sloped sight?
Question for you on technique – do you modify your press out when using laser sights, and if you so, how?
Eric — It’s slightly sloped and not as easy as it should be to rack using the rear sight, but it’s doable. Why they make them like this is beyond me.
ford — No change. Bringing the gun up and level not only benefits from “muscle memory” but also has the same effect as when using the irons: good sight alignment on the target all the way through the gun’s extension.
Thoughts on iron sight speed with these vs other sights tried recently?
Todd,
Thanks for the irons vs. laser comparison. I am in the process of trying some new irons and was wondering what your impressions are of the C.A.P. front with / Pro Operator rear? How would you compare those to Trijicon HD’s. Assuming you are target focused with the laser, do you attribute the quicker laser times to eliminating focal shift from target to sights? I look forward to your reply.
Thanks!
Ernie
Interesting test Todd. I was surprised by the results.